Tax Returns Process

The Details

Below you’ll find information on the pricing and process should you choose to file your taxes with us. Please note that, at this time, we are only offering tax return services for residents of so-called British Columbia. 


To begin working with us right away, please fill out the Tax Client Intake Form. Once we receive your form you will be sent a deposit invoice and onboarding paperwork, and we can get started on your file! Please also read the wealth of information below, as our pricing and process may have changed.


Timeline

  • You are welcome to submit your information as early as you have it prepared, using the secure link we will provide, and the process outlined below. Note that we are unable to EFILE returns until late February of the following year, when CRA is done with their annual website overhaul. We can get your return as prepared as possible, in advance.

  • If you would like a draft of your return prepared ahead of the RRSP deadline please let us know as soon as possible. You will need to provide all of your relevant tax information since many slips are not available on CRA online until the end of February.

  • You can provide us with up to 3 different hypothetical RRSP contribution amounts and we will tell you the results of your return at the 3 different contribution levels.

  • If you expect to owe tax, your filing deadline is April 30th.

  • If you are self-employed, you have until June 15th to file your return. HOWEVER any amounts you owe to CRA are still due by April 30th. Amounts paid after this date will be subject to interest charges.

  • If you expect not to owe tax, or to receive a refund, the deadlines are much less crucial. There are no late filing fees when you do not owe tax. However, some benefits calculations may be affected by late filing (Canada Child Benefit, GST/HST credit, etc.).

Pricing

Please visit our Pricing Page for all the details!

Process

Our primary goal is to make your tax filing experience as low-stress and enjoyable as we can, so please do let us know how we can help or present this information differently. If, after thoroughly reading this page, you still have questions about working with us, please email Gillian at gillian@letsmakeitcount.ca.   

Don’t worry if the process below doesn’t make sense right away - we will be guiding you (and sending gentle, caring reminders) every step of the way!

Ready to begin? Here’s how it works:

  1. Fill out the Tax Client Intake Form so we can start or update your file. Note that returning clients must fill out this form each year to ensure we have the most up-to-date information on hand.   

  2. For spouses/partners filing together, each of you must fill out the Tax Client Intake Form individually. 

  3. Watch your inbox for signature request email(s) from DropboxSign (these sometimes go to spam folders). In this document you can expect to find:

    1. Engagement Letter outlining our working relationship 

    2. If you are a new client; an authorization form that allows us to download the tax data CRA has on file for you, directly from CRA online. This ensures your tax return is accurate and it is the most efficient way for us to collect your tax slips. 

  4. You will receive an invoice via Quickbooks Online for a $50/deposit for each tax year we are working on together. This deposit will be deducted from your final invoice.

  5. Once we have your deposit & onboarding paperwork, we will access your CRA Online account and download all available tax slips for the tax year(s) you’re filing. We will share these via email for your review and request at that time any forms you believe are missing from the summary. You will be provided with a secure upload link for sending additional forms. Please do not send tax slips by email attachment. If you have already sent forms by email, please re-send them via the Secure Link when requested. This will ensure all of your submissions are received by our team and kept organized and secure. Thank you!

  6. If you are self-employed, access the Business Finances Tracking Template and instructional videos on how to use it here. Once complete, share directly from Google Drive with tax@letsmakeitcount.ca AND gillian@letsmakeitcount.ca. If you are not using Google Drive, upload your completed spreadsheet to your Secure Link. 

  7. If you own a rental property, access the Rental Property Tracking Template. Please let us know if you have an existing spreadsheet or software you’d prefer to share. We do not want you to re-do your work if it’s already done!   

    1. Make a copy of the template for yourself - Watch Video (this video is for the other template but the concept is the same!) 

    2. Read the instructions included in the spreadsheet and please let me know if you have questions. I will hopefully be making step-by-step videos for this template soon, but it’s not ready quite yet!

  8. Once your Business Finances Tracking spreadsheet or Rental Property spreadsheet is complete, share it with gillian@letsmakeitcount.ca AND tax@letsmakeitcount.ca  directly from Google Drive, or by uploading a spreadsheet to your Secure Link. Or, if you are using a bookkeeping software, generate a Profit & Loss report for the year (in excel or .csv format). Please reach out to gillian@letsmakeitcount.ca with any questions you have about this step.  

  9. Connect with Gillian at gillian@letsmakeitcount.ca so we can answer your questions or set-up a call to go through your return together.  


Ready to get started? Please fill out the Tax Client Intake Form. Once we receive your form you will be sent a deposit invoice and onboarding paperwork, and we can get started on your file!